Transfer switch



Septi 30. 1924. 1,509,990

F. G. voN HooRN TRANSFER SWITCH Filed June 5D. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet F/g/ I fw greolNEryoRHoo/n Sept. 30 1924.

F. G. VON HOORN TRANSFER SWITCH Filed June 50 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvr-:NToR Freo 6T Von Hoof/7.

W TNESSES: .f MW M TORNEY of Turtle Creek, in the county of Allegheny Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES vPATENT oFHcE.

FRED G. voN HOORN, OF TURTLE CREEK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING-- HOUSE ELECTRIC 8cr MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYL- VANIA.

TRANSFER SWITCH.

i Application filed .Tune 30, 1923. Serial No'. 648,706.

To all fui/wm t may conce/m.'

Be it known that I, FRED G. voN HoonN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new' yand useful Improvement in Transfer Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switch mechanism and particularly to enclosed switch mechanism for controlling the motors and shutters of moving picture. machines. y

My improved switch mechanism is particularly adapted for transferring current from the motor operating a moving picture machine to a motor operating another mov-- ing picture machine and for controlling the shutter apparatus of the machines, so as to insure proper sequence of operation in transferring ther operation from one machine to another.

One object of my invention is to provide a switch mechanism for controlling motors and shutters of moving picture machines wherein a proper' sequence of operation of the apparatus controlled by the switch is i insured and wherein the switch is automatically returned to a predetermined operating position after each operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a switch mechanism having the above characteristics, that is simpleV in operation and inexpensive to manufacture, and which may readily be inspected and repaired.

These and other objects that will be madey apparent throughout the further description of my invention are attained by means of the switch mechanism hereinafter described and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1. is a view in vertical section vthrough the housing containing the switchr mechanism showing the switch mechanism in front elevation; f

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section through the apparatus taken on theline II-II of Fig. 1 and showing apart of the switch .Y mechanism in side elevation, and

secured to the bottom ofthe housing and' which is providedwith two pairs of switch contact jaws 7 and 8, and a pair of auxiliary contact terminal members 9 and. 11, that are alined with one of the pairs of contact jaw members 7 and 8, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The switch is of the double-throw, double-pole type and consists of two pairs of blade members 12 and 13, the blade members of each pair being connected by an rinsulating plate 14 thatis secured to the blade members by means of rivets 15. The blade members 12 and 13 are pivoted to hinge jaw members 16 and are permanentlyy held in angular relation as indicated in Fig. 2 by the insulating plate 14. The blades 12 and 13 are of such length that when in the central position indicated in Fig. 2 they conductively engage the contact jaw members 7 an d 8.

The switch blade members 12 and 13 are actuated by means of an operating crank rod 17, that is pivoted for rotation in the side walls 18 of the housing 4, the operating rod 17 being disposed within slots 19 in the insulating plates 14. By reason of the lost mo- 'tion connection between the rod 17 and the slots 19 in the insulating plates 14, it will be seen that the switch blade members 12 and 13 may be rotated even though the aXes of the hinge jaws and the .operating rod are out of alineinent.v

A normal operating position of the switch members is indicated at dotted lines A and an eXtreme operating position vof theswitch members 12 and 13 is indicated at dotted lines Bat which time the switch blade member 13,is in conductive engagement with auxiliary contact member 11. Vhen the switch members 12 and 13 are moved to the eXtreme lower position, the switch blade member 12 will conductively engage the auX- iliary contact member 9.

It will be understood that current to the motor is supplied from a circuit to which hinge jaw members yand the contact jaw members are connected and vthat the motors of two moving picture machines are energized when the switch blade members are in the central position indicatedin Fig. 2 in full lines# When. the blade member l put outot service to close.

lt is necessary only, to insure proper op` eration to close the circuit `through the switch jaw member 16, switch blade member 13 and auxiliary contact member .11, tor the purposeot actuating the relay and after vthe relay is actuated, it is desirable to automatically interrupt thecircuit through vthe relay. lt will befunderstood that the crank `rod 17 is provided with an operatinghandle 21 that extends exteriorly ot the housing and by means of which the switches are ac tuated. lt is desirable, therefore, to automatically movethe switch blade `member out cgt engagement with the auxiliary contact member instantly after the contact has been made. The apparatus for accomplishing this will hereinafter be described.

During normal operation oil one ot the moving picture machines, the switch blade lqoccupies the position A in engagement with the contact 4memljier 8. lli/dien it is desired to transfer the operation of the moving pictures from the machine in operation to an auxiliary -machine, in order to change trom one film to another with the least possible interruption, the switch blade membersare moved downwardly toward the auxiliary contact member 1l'vvlhen the switch blade member 12 engages the contact' jaw member 7, the motor connected thereto will be energized and operation started bevitore the motor connected to the switch jaw member 8 is deenergized. This operation gives thelast starting motor time to pick up and to insure proper operation ot the `moving picture hlm before the operation of the other iilm is discontinued.

`Further downward 'movementof the switch blade members causes the `switch blade 13 to be withdrawn from the contact -jaw member 8 and switch blade member 12 to be moved into engagement with the auxiliary switch contactv member 9. At this instant theblade engages the auxiliary contact 9, the shutter denser connected to themachine being put out vot operation, will be closed, thus interrupting the light of that machine. As soon as the operator has moved the switch to the extreme position, wherein it engagesone ot the auxiliary contact members, he may release the handle and the apparatus about to'be described will return the switch blade member 12 toa `position corresponding to the position A with the blade Vii'ieniber 7.

The apparatus for automatically return ing the switch blade to the operative position A upon the rcleas?y of the liandlcvby thc operator comprises a metal plate 22 that is attached to the side wall 18 and which is provided with a pair ot guide tongues 23 and 24 that are bent outwardly from the plane of the body ot the plate 22, as indicat ed in Fig. 1, to proif'ide stop shoulders-:i5 and 26, respectively. Crank arms 27and 28 are pivotally mounted upon the pivotshatt 29 ot the crank rod 1,7, the arm 27 being disposed behind the guide 23 and the crank arm 28 being disposed behind the guide 2l fas indicated in Figs. 1 and 3.

The crank arms 27 and 28 are provided with angularly disposed lingers 31 and 32 respectively, that extend across the path oil movement ot the crank rod 17 and which are adapted to beiengaged thereby before the crank arm and switch members are moved to the ,extreme operative `positions B.` As indicated in Fig. 3, the crank arm has been moved to the lowermost position and has engaged the finger 32 ot the arm 28, thereby moving the arm to its extii'eme lower position and stretching a helical spring that normally tends tohold the arnis27 and 28 in engagement with the stop shoulders 25 and respectively. It will b e apparent that, when theoperator releases Ihis grip upon the operating handle .21, the ringer 32, whichis in engagement with the crank rod 17, will cause the crank rod to be moved to the position corresponding to position A when" the spring 33 returns the arm 28 into Yengagement with the stop shoulder 26.

lVhen the switch blade 13 is moved into Contact with the auxiliary Contact terminal 11, the crank rod 17 will engage the `ringer 31 otthe arm 27 and stretch the spring 33 which will return the arm 2.7 to its normal position and move the switch blade `member 13 to position A, which is lthe normal operating position tor the motor connected in the circuitcontaining the switch jaw member 48.

It will be apparent from vthe foregoing that a simple and inexpensive means is provided 'tor returning the switch blade niembers to the operating position A after 'the with a main contact member and means for automatically moving the switch member out of engagement with the auxiliary contact member without disengaging it from the main contact member when the operating handle is released.

2. The combination with a double-throw switch having a pivoted` blade member, an operating handle therefor and a pair of main contact members adapted to be engaged alternately and simultaneously by the switch member, yof an auxiliary .contact member adjacent to each main contact member adapted to be engaged only when the blade member is in contact with the adjacent main Contact member, and means for automatically moving the switch member out of engagement with the auxiliary contact member without disengaging it. from the main contact member when the operating handle is released.

3. Switch mechanism comprising a pair of main contact members, a pair of auxiliary contact members, a switch member adapted when in middle position 4to engage both main contact members and when in extreme positions to engage one main contact memberand one auxiliary contact member, means for moving the switch member to different operative positions and means l for automatically moving the switch mem- Aber out' of engagement with the auxiliary contact member without disengaging rit from the main contact member when the first said means is released.

4. Switch mechanism comprising a pair of main contact members, a pair of auxiliary contact members, a switch member adapted when in middle position to engage both `main contact members and when in ex-v treme positions tojengage one main contact member and one auxiliary contact member, a ycrank shaft for moving the switch member, a pair of operating arms pivotally mounted upon the crank shaft and adapted to be moved thereby in opposite directions, a stop member for limiting movement of the armstoward one another, a spring yieldingly holdingthe arms againstthe stop and in central position, the said arms having means engaged by the crank arm for moving the crank arm a predetermined distance out of engagement with the auxiliary contact members when the crank shaft is released.

5. Switch mechanism comprising a pair of Contact jaw members, a pivot jaw member, a switch member pivoted to the pivot jaw member for simultaneously engaging both jaw members and movable into and out of engagement with the contact jaw members, terminal contact members disposed adjacent to the contact jaw members and adapted to be engaged by the switch member while the switch member is in engagement with an adjacent jaw member, and means for automatically moving the switch member out of contact with the contact member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27thr day of June,

FRED Gr. voN HOORN. 

